Friday, July 25, 2025

End of the week catch up

 I meant to write on Wednesday. Really, I did. This week ... it's been something. 

Between the weather, faffing about, and some work stuff that has been going on, I am a mildly tired girl. 

On the bright side it's Friday. Or, should I say "Fri-yay!" Ha!

Wednesday I completed a project that's been going on for around two years.  Can you even guess what it is? 

Dancing Stars!


Holy Hannah! When I hung it up on the clothes line to take a photo, I stepped back and took it in. It was a moment where I was a bit gobsmacked that *I* -- me -- made this. 

I am pretty sure I know what kind of batting I want for it. I still have to figure out the yardage for the backing and the binding.  Oh, yeah, and the color. I'm thinking I'm going to go with a black binding, to help those colors pop. Anyone have any suggestions for the quilting? I'm debating on tying or just going with cross hatch. I've never tied a quilt before. 

What else ... earlier this week my hubby and I installed a new fancy radio in his truck. I don't have any photos.  Now he can connect his phone to the radio and have all the fun apple play things that I have in my car, including a much bigger screen for his back up cam. We learned just how easy-ish it is to swap out the factory radio for something aftermarket.  If we had only known that 25-some years ago. When I was younger I had the impression that swapping out the radio was some mysterious thing that you had to be specially trained in on, or something. 

The weather has been all over the place this week. We've had sun, clouds, wind and rain with thunder.  It made it a wee bit hard to get out to the garden and record a garden update, but I eventually got it done. Look for a video on my Youtube channel this weekend. 

I did a bit more crafting. The last time I was at Michael's I saw butterfly charms and thought "Those would make pretty needle minders.  

So that's what I did! 





While I had the fancy expensive (not really) E6000 stuff out I also finally made some magnetic needle threaders that I've been wanting to make for *ages*. 



My friend Patty sent me a little care package a while back. In it she included this cute needle threader


and I was so inspired by it that I wanted to make some and that way I have them all over my crafting spaces and maybe even in my project bags. 

In other crafting news ... I have almost all my organizing done.  I spent some time moving my yarn around and trying to find a spot for everything that was on my yarn shelf before I decided it was a mess and something needed to be done. 


It's SO much better.  I'm not completely done. I may move some of those totes to a different spot.  My hubby and I were talking about it this evening.  He felt it was important I had my work space freed up.  I thought I'd just be shoving those totes around. Ha! He gave me a few ideas. 

I need to expand the storage I have for my DMC floss, too.  I have a few containers that I can add to my two towers of floss.  

The thing with "airing the stash," so to speak, is that you also get a fresh impression of just how much stuff you have. Along with seeing some things you may have forgotten you had **whistles innocently** I'm definitely set for Aida fabric.  Now that I'm feeling more confident about dying fabric I've definitely got enough materials to start with ... 

Speaking of dyeing, I'm thinking of some bare sock weight yarn that I think I have. If I have it, I bet it's sitting in the closet of the craft room. Yay, more sock yarn. Ha ha ha ha, heh, heh, *groans* oh boy. 🤭

I tell ya, I have stuff squirreled away all over the place. 

Work. Well, when isn't there something going on with my work, right? I love my job. I've been there for more than 22 years. However, there's stuff going on that is not in my control.  It's just ... frustrating. We've had this cloud hanging over us for years and years.  Longer than I care to admit, really. As I told someone this week, you can't really explain my company, you have to experience it. Really, the structure of the organization is definitely one of a kind. When I do try to explain it some are like "huh?" and "Wow."

So, if you would be so kind, please send some positive vibes and prayers my way. 

On the health front, I'm still feeling pretty good.  I've been taking it easy when I can, and pushing myself when I feel I can. Yay! I've been walking out to check the game cams each morning and I can walk out there and back without feeling very much discomfort. It's a win I'm happy to have. 

Why am I checking game cams? Well, hunting season is just a few months away. 


I love how the path into the back 20 looks. To me it is so inviting.

The trail in the woods. Hard to believe that in a few months all that green will be changing to fall colors. 


Really, it feels like summer started not that long ago and the Fourth of July was just last week.  We are heading to August in like a week. 

With August just around the corner the school supplies have started hitting the stores. 

The last time I was at Walmart, I was kind of bumming around and went around the school supplies aisle. 

I saw this: 


... and was hit with memories of when my son was just starting his school years. He wanted *all* the Mario things. He still loves Mario. Is it weird that I miss buying school supplies? He's been out of school two years now. 

Sometimes I think I need to write notes for stuff I want to write about on the blog. I could have swore there was more stuff I wanted to blather about ... Can I remember? No. 

I'm still continuing the trend of "taking it easy" this month.  I don't think I've really touched my knitting this week.  I've knit a little bit on my Red Panda cross stitch and my Christmas ornament piece. 

Weather is supposed to be nice this weekend. We'll be fishing in the a.m. Which, if I want to fish with some of my own ties, I need to get this blog published so I can go work on a few. 

Have a great weekend, dear readers! I appreciate every one of you who takes the time to read my blog. 😃

Monday, July 21, 2025

Flosstube podcast 32 - Unintentional Christmas in July and time to do some organization



Thank you for stopping by and watching my video. I am so glad you are here! If you like what you see, please subscribe and click the notification bell to be notified of when I load new videos. 


I'm on Instagram: AmniconStudio
Email: AmniconStudio at gmail.com

Current Works in Progress (WIPS)




Project name: One Stitch at a Time
Started: Jan. 10, 2025
Finished:
Designer/Source: La-D-Da Stitches, purchased at 123stitch.com
DMC conversion: 501, 3799, 315, 3826, 169, 05, 832, 3787, 3859, 640
Fabric: 28 Charles Craft DMC "Tea Dyed"
I'm participating in a stitch-along in the Across the Pond - Stitch and Chat group on the book of faces.

Previous update:


********************************




Project Name: White Christmas 2022 ornaments - mailbox ornament
Started: Mailbox started July 9, 2025 (overall project started) Dec. 2, 2023 
Completed: Mailbox completed July 17, 2025
Designer/Source: Primrose Cottage stitches
Fabric: 14 count aida opalescent
DMC floss in called for colors
B5200, 310, 321, 435, 562, 722, 728, 761, 818, 898, 954, 3841


**********************


(Forgot to take a photo and it was quicker to take a screenshot)

Project name: Licorice vanilla socks
Started: 5/3/25
Finished:
Needle size: U.S. 1 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll "Licorice Tweed"
Yarn color: Charcoal grey with flecks of color
Yarn Purchased: Stash yarn that was given to me.


Previous update:


***********************************



(Same thing, forgot to take a photo)


Project name: Beach Cruise socks
Started: June 1, 2025
Finished:
Needle size: 2.5 mm (U.S. 1)
Yarn: Knit Picks Felici "Beach Cruise"
Yarn color: Yellow, orange, blue
Yarn Purchased: 2025 Knitpicks order


Previous update: 




New Starts





Project name: A Daily Reminder
Started: June 25, 2025
Finished:
Designer/Source: Brenda Gervais, purchased at Farm Girl Dry Goods
Fabric: Stash Aida
Color: Hand dyed by me, brown and splashes of green
Fabric Count: 14 count
DMC: My own conversion, as I go along. So far I've used: B5200
I'm participating in a stitch-along with Sarah at Sarah's Stitchy Spot, Holly at Hobbies of Holly, Judy at Stitching Bunny, and one other gal named Marcy. 


*************************************



Project Name: Red Panda, part of the Endangered Species club
Started: July, 5, 2025
Finished:
Designer: Lindy Stitches
Purchased from Lindy Stitches.com
Fabric: Hobby Lobby Aida
Color: Ivory
Fabric Count: 16 count
DMC: B5200, 355, 310, 3835, 3776, 951, 3836, 03, 436, Weeks Dye WORKS: 1236 (Mocha), 4111 (Lucky), 1267 (Kris'' Bon Bon)
Needle size: 26

**********************************************


Finish (FO)




Project name: Black Bellied Whistling Ducks
Started: 5/3/25
Finished: 6/21/25
Designer: Lindy Stitches, part of the Bird Crush Club
Chart purchased at Lindy Stitches in 2023
Fabric: Hobby Lobby 14 count aida
Fabric color: Mist
Fabric count: 14 ct
Floss used: DMC 310, 605, 827, 644, 08, 3064, 712, 838, 3819, 3782, 3863, 603, 3790, Threadworx - Rustic Red

Previous update:




Fully Finished Object (FFO)




Project name: Nevermore
Started: 6/22/25
Finished: 6/24/25
Designer: Lizzy Kate
Received the chart from Ashley and Gianne over at “We stitch and we know things.
Fabric: Stash Lugana 
Fabric color: Ivory
Fabric count: 28 count
Floss used: DMC 310


A Finished Object but needing one last thing, maybe.



This is a needle punch kit I won over at 

mrs_azfamilyzoo

's instagram account. The one thing I haven't done is add the rhinestones to the blue background.  

Other channels mentioned in the video
Kenzie's tutorial  - Finishing Tutorial. 
Alison's IG:   / mrs_azfamilyzoo  

Shoutouts:

Lorraine at @sewonwednesday 
Mackenzie at @thenightowlstitcher 
Ashley and Gianne at @Westitchandweknowthings  

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

I'm still here!

 I didn't fall off the face of the earth, I swear! 

July is speeding by on me. I got the text notification that my paycheck was deposited and I was like "Oh snap!" Two weeks, or so, have sped by me. 

The last few weeks have been a bit atypical and definitely not how I expected July to be going.  Events mentioned in this blog post may be out of order.  Because, well, I can't remember what order things happened.  This is what I get for not sitting myself down and writing.  I've been kind of all over the place this month.

It started with the long holiday weekend. We were able to get out and do some fishing. 


Proof that I've been successful fishing this month. 


Something wonderful happened. 

Way back when, either for a Mother's Day, my birthday or Christmas, my husband promised me a new fountain for the back yard.  We were waiting for it to go on sale, for at least a year. I was beginning to think it was never going to go on sale. 

Then it finally went on sale! My husband checked the Menard's website, just on a lark, saw it on sale and said "Guess what we are getting today?" 


I know, the box isn't so great to look at. This is the one we've been waiting for. It's over 6 feet tall and it is perfect for the space by the deck. 



It's so pretty at night, too. 



The cherries finally started ripening. 


I still need to get out there and harvest them before the birds spot them and eat them. 

The sweet, darling, little babies ... 

Well, they started getting their feathers in and stinking up the house. 

This girl in particular ... she is so smart. Any time I opened up the tote to do anything she immediately flew up and out of the tote and then I'd have to give a quick chase. 


Out they go!


It was kind of a job to get them an outside space set up.  See, I wasn't really anticipating getting chicks this year. 

I got them in a big open space and they were SO happy. 


The big girls were hanging out next to the open air coop, checking out these new neighbors.  Then quickly lost interest. 

The big girls are doing well. 


I saw these girls laying in the grass when I was looking out one of the windows.  What a life they have.  Laying in the grass, in the shade, without a care in the world. 

I haven't done much cross stitching this past week, or so.  I got to a certain point on my projects and then decided to iron them and have them all pretty for my next flosstube. (Yes, I know I'm late recording)

I did decide to pull a project out of hibernation. 


Project Name: White Christmas 2022 ornaments - mailbox ornament
Started: Mailbox started July 9, 2025 (overall project started) Dec. 2, 2023 
Finished: 
Designer/Source: Primrose Cottage stitches
Fabric: 14 count aida opalescent
DMC floss in called for colors
B5200, 310, 321, 435, 562, 722, 728, 761, 818, 898, 954, 3841
Needle Size: 26
Made For: Myself. 

Since I haven't had a lot of cross stitching going on I have been paying a bit more attention to my quilt project. 

It's the Dancing Stars quilt I purchased from Fat Quarter Shop, ... I think in 2023, but didn't start until 2024. I'm finally closing in on the finish line. If you do a search on my blog for Dancing Stars Quilt you will see previous updates.  I've been so picky/careful/whatever you want to call it, about making sure the points are good and everything is as lined up as it can be that I've been dragging my feet on this one. 


It feels good to have made lots of progress on it. 

Oh, I also *finally* tied my first fishing tie. 


I forgot to retake a photo after I got the eyes on it and it was all done. Once I decided to do it, it was so much fun. My hubby took it on a work fishing trip this week and he caught fish with it. I was pretty stoked to hear that. 

What else ... 

This past weekend, the warmest days of the year, so far, I decided it was time to organize the yarn stash. 


This isn't the full stash, of course. ... I have more than 6 totes full of yarn. I had it all out on the deck, spread out, and I was sorting it by acrylic yarn, wool yarn, cotton ... sock yarn. (Told my hubby sock yarn doesn't count as stash. He looked at me funny. 😆 ) 

It's all back in the she shed and I need to decided how I'm going to stack the totes and where to move what where. It wasn't nearly as overwhelming as I worried it would be.  I saw I have a TON of handspun that I need to do something with. Problem is it's my really early handspun and it still feels precious.  

I also need to expand on the containers that I'm using to hold my DMC floss, and figure out a way to store my cross stitch fabric and charts. 

And then ... Mother Nature decided to keep us on our toes.  The area has had a few days of really warm temps and humidity. Then yesterday it stormed and rained the entire day.  Well, today as well.  Today's temps were much cooler. 

This is a photo from yesterday.  The chickens wanted to stay outside, in the rain.  This girl was walking in front of the house and she was SOAKED through. 


In other news: Independence day weekend I started having what I thought was a flare up.  It got bad enough that I contacted the doctor's office and discovered my body decided to be extra, or something.  Despite my body trying to remind me who's in charge, I managed to get some stuff done. It was (as still is a little bit) painful when I bend down or stoop down to do anything. I took it easy whenever I could. Last week I wanted to record a flosstube in the early part of the week. Things were just too hectic and then the latter part of the week I needed to focus on publishing deadlines. 

I'm feeling improved now.  Actually, probably the best I've felt in a few months. Every time something happens I feel like I'm gaining a little bit of knowledge about what's going on and what is not going on, and I try to use that knowledge and keep the healing journey going. I keep telling myself that at some point this will all be a memory.  (Gosh I hope so).

Hoping to record a video this week.  I thought I'd be able to record today. However, since it was raining I knew the lighting would be bunk. Also, I need to update my show notes. 

So that's what is up with me. Thank you to all who take the time to read my blog posts.  It means more to me than you know. 🥰



Monday, June 30, 2025

Another trip around the sun

 This past week was my birthday. I've told a few people that I woke up that morning, sat up, thought a moment and then figured what my age was and thought "That can't be right." 

Oh, it's right.  

For the most part I don't pay much attention to my age. I think I stopped counting when I was 25.  At that time I was a mom and more concerned about making my son's birthday's feel special. Now he's done with school and I'm lucky if he's around for any significant days. He's busy living life and trying to figure things out, I suppose. 

Anywho ... despite the weather the day was a nice day. I took the day before off work and did a few fun things for myself.  I made a cake (yellow with chocolate frosting, my favorite) The actual day I worked, which was fine because it rained.  I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast and enjoyed a couple with a big mug of coffee. Then made homemade pizza for supper. I've been making homemade sauce lately, too. So yummy. 

The rest of the week was pretty quiet and low-key and we've had enough rain to make doing things outside almost impossible.  I've spent a few evenings working on my quilt squares. The one night I told my husband I had three colors left, so "only 15 more squares."



Oh, I almost forgot to share about my birthday gift from my hubby and son. 


Can you tell what it is without looking at the booklet? 


Oh yes, a new hobby! There is one particular fly that I really like and it's next to impossible to get new ones.  So I'm going to do what any normal crafter does: I'm going to make it myself! 

 I've been watching videos and I'm almost brave enough to give it a go. Who would have thought that fly tying would have about as much supplies as all the other "crafty" crafts? I didn't.  I knew there was a lot of stuff you could buy, but really, the possibilities are endless. 

I also got a few other goodies, which I'll share on the next flosstube I record. 

Speaking of flosstube ... 

I did put out a new flosstube. You can find it here:


I received some fun mail this past week. My "Hope Song" arrived home after being fully finished by Kenzie over at Mudpuppy Stitchery.  It's *so* good. I now get it. A nice FFOing really makes a cross stitch piece. 


I'm still deciding on a place for it. 

On my birthday I started a new cross stitch for a birthday sal I'm participating in. 


A Daily Reminder by Brenda Gervais. I dyed the fabric myself. 


It's been a while since I dyed anything.  It's fun.  I also had a momentarily panic about it.  I'm better now. I also forgot that the fabric would lighten up when it dried. 

The cross stitch itself is going along quicker than I thought, which is nice. 

Oh, the chicks are doing well, and growing like crazy. One of them figure out they can jump up on the waterer and she gave me stink eye and lorded her new roosting spot over the rest of them. 


What else ... yeah, that's pretty much it for this week. This past weekend we had more rain. More thunderstorms ... I said to my coworker that I wonder if this summer is going to be a repeat of last year, where it rained almost constantly for June and then was drought conditions for the rest of the season. 


Thursday, June 26, 2025

Flosstube podcast 31 - WIPs, FFOs and a new SAL

 


Thank you for stopping by and watching my video. I am so glad you stopped by! If you like what you see, please subscribe and click the notification bell to be notified of when I load new videos.  Sign up to receive blog posts by mail.

Instagram: AmniconStudio

Email: AmniconStudio at gmail.com



Current Works in Progress (WIPS)



Project name: One Stitch at a Time
Started: Jan. 10, 2025
Finished:
Designer/Source: La-D-Da Stitches, purchased at 123stitch.com
DMC conversion: 501, 3799, 315, 3826, 169, 05, 832, 3787, 3859, 640
Fabric: 28 Charles Craft DMC "Tea Dyed"
I'm participating in a stitch-along in the Across the Pond - Stitch and Chat group on the book of faces.

Previous update:



**************************************



Project name: Black Bellied Whistling Ducks
Started: 5/3/25
Finished:
Designer: Lindy Stitches, part of the Bird Crush Club
Chart purchased at Lindy Stitches in 2023
Fabric: Hobby Lobby 14 count aida
Fabric color: Mist
Fabric count: 14 ct
Floss used: DMC 310, 605, 827, 644, 08, 3064, 712, 838, 3819, 3782, 3863, 603, 3790, Threadworx - Rustic Red

Previous update:



****************************



Project name: Licorice vanilla socks
Started: 5/3/25
Finished:
Needle size: U.S. 1 (2.5mm)
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll "Licorice Tweed"
Yarn color: Charcoal grey with flecks of color
Yarn Purchased: Stash yarn that was given to me.

Previous update:



****************************************



Project name: Beach Cruise socks
Started: June 1, 2025
Finished:
Needle size: 2.5 mm (U.S. 1)
Yarn: Knit Picks Felici "Beach Cruise"
Yarn color: Yellow, orange, blue
Yarn Purchased: 2025 Knitpicks order

Previous update: 






Fully Finished Objects (FFO)




Love, Hugs, and Kisses
Started: 5/9/25
Finished: 6/3/25
FFOed: June 15, 2025
Designer: Arlene Cohen of WorksByABC
Chart purchased: Just Cross Stitch Feb. 2023 issue
Fabric: Stash aida
Fabric color: White
Fabric count: 14 count
Floss used: DMC 816 garnet instead of the called for DMC Mouline EtoileC816.


*************************************




Bedelia Bunny
Started: Jan. 10, 2025
Finished: April 12, 2025
FFOed: June 23, 2025
Designer/Source: The Artsy Housewife, purchased at 123stitch.com
Used DMC colors. Changed color of bunny to DMC 03 to match the color of my little Feffer's fur. I also used Classic Colorworks - Blackbird for the eye and the few other spots in the flowers
Fabric: Stash Hobby Lobby Lugana 28 count "Ivory" color


********************************


New SAL




A daily reminder by Brenda Gervais. – Doing my own conversion. 
Purchased from Farm Girl Dry Goods. Still need to dye fabric and choose colors
Other Flosstubers in the SAL are @Sarah’s Stitchy Spot, @Hobbies of Holly, Judy@Stitching bunny

Mail 
Charts from Ashley and Jan @We stitch and we know things. Thank you so much!
Kimberbell Needlepunch kit from Alison over at @ Mrs. AZfamilyzoo Stitches

Channels mentioned during my video:
Kenzie @mudpuppy Stitchery
Bernadette @Bern Stitches
Becca @Sambrie Stitches

Other channels I’ve watched since my last video. 

Patty @Stitching with my kitties – She has been making crazy quick progress on jessiechallinor1904
Roberta and Lenny @Sable Stitchers
Nancy @Disorderly Stitcher – New patriotic SAL, along with @stitcherwithalaughingface
Kathy and Molly @Linen and Scraps 
Dottie @Stitching Scottie
Stacy @911 Stitcher
Sheldon @Sheldon in Stitches 
Jason @Jason Cross Stitches – had really kind words at the end of his last video.  I encourage everyone to go take a listen. Episode #7
Shellie @Antique Needleworkers – fun video of her with Holly @Hobbies of Holly,  Kari @Tiger Lily designs, Lisa @Lady Huzzah and Jessica. She said she will start up her flosstube.
Joshua @Cross Stitch and Cambria